How to attach files to your templates

In Shared Email Templates for Outlook

On this page, you will find several ways to attach a file to your templates in Shared Email Templates. You can attach files from OneDrive, SharePoint, URL or create an Outlook draft, attach a file to it, and use this draft as a template. Also, you can use a special macro that will remind you to attach a file from your local storage each time you use a certain template.

Attach file from OneDrive
Attach file from SharePoint
Attach file from URL
What not to do while attaching files from URL
Use Outlook draft with attached file
Attach file from local storage

Note. Please note, you may face the limitations in size and number of attachments that are different in Office 365, Outlook.com, and Exchange Server.

Attach file from OneDrive

The first way to add a file to your template is to attach one from OneDrive with the help of the ~%ATTACH_FROM_ONEDRIVE[] macro. To use the macro, open your template and click the Insert macro icon:

In the drop-down list, select the ~%ATTACH_FROM_ONEDRIVE[] macro.

Tip. You can find the detailed manual on how to use macros here: How to use macros in your templates

The add-in will ask to log in to your OneDrive account and choose a file to attach to your email:
Select a file to attach from OneDrive.

Tip. You can switch to another OneDrive account by clicking the Blue Cloud icon on the right.

When you use a template with this macro, the macro downloads the chosen file and attaches it to the currently open email message.

Note. If you use ~%ATTACH_FROM_ONEDRIVE[] in a template that is shared with other users, make sure that your teammates have access to the file or folder in OneDrive. You can learn more about managing access in OneDrive on the Share OneDrive files and folders page.

Tip. For your convenience, you can create a special folder in your OneDrive, share it with all your teammates, and collect all the documents you share in templates there.

Attach file from SharePoint

Also, you can use the ~%ATTACH_FROM_SHAREPOINT[] macro to attach a file from your SharePoint. When you pick this macro, the add-in will ask to log in to your SharePoint account and choose a file to attach:
Select a file to attach from SharePoint.

Tip. You can switch to another SharePoint account by clicking the Switch SharePoint account icon on the right.

Note that when you use a template with this macro, you have to be logged in to SharePoint so that the macro has access to the file.

Note. If you use ~%ATTACH_FROM_SHAREPOINT[] in a template that is located in a team and shared with other users, make sure that your teammates have access to the file or folder in SharePoint. You can learn more about managing access in SharePoint on the Share SharePoint files or folders page.

Note. Please note, the ~%ATTACH_FROM_SHAREPOINT[] will not work on free accounts, such as Outlook.com, as they do not have SharePoint.

Attach file from URL

Another way to add a file to your template is to attach a file from a URL by using the ~%ATTACH_FROM_URL[] macro. Open your template and click the Insert macro icon:

In the drop-down list, select the ~%ATTACH_FROM_URL[] macro. In the macro inserted into your template, add a link to the required file between the square brackets, e.g. ~%ATTACH_FROM_URL[https://domain.com/file-url]

Note. If you use the %ATTACH_FROM_URL[] macro in a template that is shared with other users, make sure that your teammates have access to the URL you indicate in the macro.

What not to do while attaching files from URL

Friends, please, if you want to attach a file from OneDrive or SharePoint, use the ~%ATTACH_FROM_ONEDRIVE[] and ~%ATTACH_FROM_SHAREPOINT[] macros only.

Do not try to use the ~%ATTACH_FROM_URL[] macro and put a link to your file from OneDrive or SharePoint into square brackets.

For instance, you may open your file in a browser, copy its address from the address bar, and try to use it in the ~%ATTACH_FROM_URL[] macro. This won't work. Also, if you copy a link to your file while sharing it in OneDrive and paste it into square brackets in the ~%ATTACH_FROM_URL[] macro – this won't work too.

Use Outlook draft with attached file

Besides, to attach a file to your template, you can use Outlook drafts as templates. In this case, you create a draft in Outlook, attach a file, and link the folder with this draft to Shared Email Templates. Here is our guide on how to use linked folders:

How to use Outlook drafts as templates

Attach file from local storage

Use the ~%WHAT_TO_ATTACH macro to remind yourself to attach a file from your hard drive or SSD every time you use a certain template. So, each time you insert a template that contains this macro into your email message, the add-in will ask you to select a file. Click the Browse icon to pick it:
Select a file to attach from local storage.

Ask a question (posted publicly)

If you have any questions or issues with this add-in, please feel free to post your concerns in the comments area. As soon as we answer, a notification message will be sent to your e-mail. If you do not want to share your thoughts in public, please contact us at support@ablebits.com.